A punter who says a London betting shop is using a computer glitch as an excuse to wriggle out of paying him £200 claims it will take about six months for the wager to be settled.

Coral bookmaker in Station Road maintains that a bug prevented new odds, calculated centrally, from being transmitted to its Edgware branch, where Alan Higham, from Islington, had put £325 on Dundee United to beat Albanian side Vllanzia at advertised odds of 6-5 on August 14.

By Mr Higham's calculations, the bet should have paid a profit of £400 plus the original stake, giving him a total of £725.

Coral says it will only pay £520 and has referred the matter to the Independent Betting Arbitration Service (IBAS), however, a decision could take as long as six months.

But Mr Higham says about 80 per cent of contributors to internet betting message boards says he will get his payout.

And Mr Higham also plans to oppose the Edgware Coral's application for a betting licence when it comes up for renewal.

'They should honour their debts rather than trying to hide behind the small print,' said Mr Higham.

A Coral spokesman said the bookmaker would abide by the IBAS decision.